PRE-ARRIVAL WELCOME INFORMATION

PRE-ARRIVAL WELCOME INFORMATION

Congratulations on your assignment to Korea...our intent is to provide you basic information to plan for your move. It is possible to come to Korea unaccompanied, accompanied/command sponsored (CSP) or unaccompanied/non-command sponsored. Non-command sponsored Families are provided services on a space available basis.

These services are becoming much more limited with more CSP Families coming to Korea. As a non-command sponsored Family you are responsible for the additional cost for your Family's transportation and shipping of excess HHG. The additional living expenses come out of your own pocket as well schooling expenses for school age kids. Your Family is also provided medical care on a space available basis under the Tricare Standard services where you have to pay for copays and deductibles. It is highly recommended to bring families over command sponsored. For more information see the Command Sponsored Program MATRIX attachment 1. To receive Command Sponsorship, Family Members must obtain a Medical screening prior to the Soldier's approval for Family travel to Korea. Contact the EFMP Manager, Military Personnel or your S1 at the losing installation to initiate the screening process. Upon approval, each Family member's name will be amended to your orders so that travel, transportation, and housing arrangements can be made. Start this process early because it can be lengthy. Each Soldier should be provided a sponsor to help provide specific information for your Family and unit of assignment. Please reach out to your unit if you have not heard from your sponsor or you can email usarmy.humphreys .imcom.pacific.list.sponsorship-prgm@mail.mil to request a sponsor.

The military forces in Korea are now divided into 3 areas. What was known as Area I and 2 have combined into Area North. Area 1 was north of Seoul and has only unaccompanied Soldiers as of this year. Area 2 was the Seoul area. The majority of these Soldiers and Families are moving to USAG-Humphreys in response to giving much of the Yongsan post back to the Korean Government. Area 3 is the area south of Seoul. It includes USAG-Humphreys, Osan AB, Kunsan AB, and Suwon AB. After the reorganization is complete, this will be the largest hub of military on the Korean peninsula (or "The Penn" as it is affectionately called). Area 4 is the southern part of the country and is centered on USAG-Daegu.

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Transformation is the buzz word in Korea right now as new facilities are being built and brought on line as well as facilities and programs closing down at other posts. Expect building numbers, hours and phone numbers to change as programs are consolidated, moved or opened.

Where will you live?

Service Members (SM) on command sponsored orders will be assigned an Army Family Housing (AFH) unit first, if available. If AFH is not available, SM will be briefed about

Government Leased Housing (GLH) and/or moving off post to private sector housing. If AFH is not available when you arrive, you may be placed on the waiting list. Your Waiting List Eligibility Date is determined by the date the SM departed his/her last permanent duty station. GLH is located offpost within minutes from the post, and come with significant benefits for our Soldiers and Families. All of the maintenance, utilities, and rent are pre-paid, and many are brand new units. If GLH is not available you will live off post in private sector housing. Over 60% of command sponsored personnel live off post in private sector housing. Unless you are a commander or CSM, you should plan on living off-post.

Unaccompanied Soldiers E6 and below will be assigned and reside in barracks managed by their prospective units. Barracks are configured as one plus one. However, in the short-term many Soldiers have had to double up until construction is complete and new furnishings arrive.

Unaccompanied Soldiers E7 and above will reside in Senior Leader Quarter (SLQ) or off-post depending on the occupancy rate. If the occupancy rate is under 95%, it is mandatory for SM to reside on post. Over 95% occupancy rate, SM will be authorized to reside off-post. SLQs are efficiency apartments and are furnished with a double bed, night stand, lamp, computer desk and chair, a living room set, stove, refrigerator and stackable washer/dryer.

On-Post Army Family Housing (AFH) on USAG-H is 3, 4, or 5 bedroom apartments. There are some duplexes and single Family homes for designated 0-6's and above. The Areas North and 4 have similar set ups. You can see sample floor plans on the Army housing Online User Services (AHOUS) website at . These homes are fully furnished with living room

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furniture, dining room furniture, bedroom sets for the master bedroom and each child, washer/dryer, stove/oven, dishwasher, and refrigerator. If you chose to bring over furniture, you can turn in the items you don't need.

Off-post Family housing is available in 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 bedroom configurations. Most of the larger homes have multiple bathrooms. Homes are available as single family, small apartment buildings with 2-6 apartments or high-rises. Housing will provide off-post homes with living room furniture, dining room furniture, bedroom sets for the master bedroom and each child, washer/dryer, stove/oven, dishwasher, and refrigerator.

More information on Humphreys Housing may be found on the Official Army Housing Online User Services (AHOUS) website at Select your installation "Humphreys" for the most current housing information. In addition, many realtors have Facebook pages where you can see examples of private sector housing.

Housing Allowance and Living Off-post

See the Defense travel website at fm for more information on the Oversea Housing Allowance (OHA) use code KR035 for the USAG-Humphreys area. OHA provides a rent-limit based on your rank and family size. You cannot make money with OHA by getting a cheaper home. The amount of OHA changes each month in relationship to the Won exchange rate to ensure it covers the rent amount in Won. In addition to your actual rent, you receive an amount for utilities each month.

After signing in with Housing, you can find a realtor who will take you to see homes that meet the criteria you would like. Not every realtor has the same inventory of homes as in the U.S. If you don't see what you like, try another realtor. After entering in a lease with a Korean Landlord, pay your rent and utilities each month in Won to your realtor. They are also your property manager and allaround-Korean-helper for the time you live in the house. They can help you find supplies or services, as well as pay for other bills. There are many locations to exchange money around the post as well as the Community Bank or Navy Federal Credit Union on posts.

Weight allowances are restricted coming to Korea. Command sponsored families are authorized 50% of your normal JTR weight allowance while unaccompanied personnel are

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authorized only 25%. Because of this, you will be provided government appliances and furniture. We encourage you to bring some furnishings and electronics (most off-post housing are equipped with both 110V and 220V outlets) with you. You may contact our Housing Office Furnishing Management Branch (FMB) at DSN (315)754-9559, commercial 011-82-31-619-9559 if you have specific questions.

Furniture to Consider Bringing

Depending on your weight allowance and how heavy your furniture is, you might want to consider bringing:

? Mattresses and box springs...Korean beds are extremely hard. Housing provides bed frames for Queen and Twin beds.

? Couches or easy chairs...Housing furniture is built to last through many families.

? Computer desk...Children's bedrooms include a student desk but there is not one for the master bedroom nor living room.

? Rugs...the floors are normally laminate or tile and rugs are not provided.

DoDEA and On-Post Schools

There are American schools on post...Two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. Only command sponsored Family members are guaranteed placement in these school. Non-command sponsored Families may attend on a space available basis. The DoDEA website has information about their academic scores and what programs are available at each school.

The school year runs from the end of August to the middle of June with both a winter and a spring break. School hours run between 7:40 to 3:25 depending on the school. There is a cafeteria in each school for hot meals managed through AAFES. Each school has a variety of after school clubs, sports, and programs.

What you need to register. ? SEALED official school records ? Immunization Records ? Birth Certificate ? Copy of orders / Letter of Employment ? All students are required to have a flu shot for entry into class

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Post-Secondary Education in Korea

The Army Education Centers in Korea offer on-site classroom and distance learning college courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels through three universities: University of Maryland University College (UMUC), Troy University (TU) and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU). These courses are open to Soldiers, Spouses, other Family members and Civilians working for United States Forces Korea (USFK) We also offer tests through the National Testing Center (NTC) that provide college credit for a fraction of the price of a class.

Medical and Tricare.

Do not change your Tricare enrollment until you arrive in Korea. Upon arrival at USAG-H, your Service Member will change your enrollment to Korea. Tricare will provide you with a Primary Care Manager at your final destination. Family Members need to go into the Medical Clinic at your final destination to register with that clinic. If not, when you call the centralized appointment line, your appointment may be at another clinic location.

There is one Army Hospital in Korea. It is currently in Yongsan (Seoul) but will be moving to USAG-H the end of 2019 when the new building is ready for occupancy. Every main post in Korea has a medical clinic to take care of routine care. You will see your PCM at that location. If you require specialty care, such as Orthopedics, OB/GYN or Dermatology then you will be given a consult. Depending on your location within Korea, you could be sent to the Brian Allgood Army Community Hospital in Seoul or a local Korean Hospital. Tricare has agreements with many hospitals in Korea and going to these hospitals, as Command Sponsored active duty family members, is no different than going to a military treatment facility as there is no co-pay or deductible costs. Noncommand sponsored families or Civilian Employees and their families going to an off-post hospital will have to pay the cost of the visit in full, prior to departing the hospital. You will then have to submit the bill to Tricare or your insurance company for reimbursement. A great many of the Korean medical community were trained in the US and speak English. There is usually an English translator available when needed at most Korean hospitals. The military clinics all use Relay Health and Tricare on-line to communicate between patients and providers. If you haven't signed up for these websites, you should consider doing that prior to arrival.

There is a BAACH App (Brian Allgood Army Community Hospital) that covers both onand off-post care. It will tell you where the nearest Tricare-accepting hospital is located, and has a translation page. Download this app prior to arriving in Korea.

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